I wanted to use something unique for Series 6 considering a lot of huge threats are being removed. That being said I think there will definitely be a rise in Rain and Trick Room teams. After messing around with mons I thought would be fun to experiment with, I thought about giving hail a try. There are some fun Slush Rush mons and decent Hail setters that could keep the hail up as much as possible. Alongside some decent speed shenanigans I think this team has some viability.
Sandslash-Alola
@ Life Orb
Ability: Slush Rush
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Triple Axel
- Iron Head
- Drill Run
- Protect
The main star of this team would be Alolan Sandslash with it being a extremely solid Slush Rush mon and Ice/Steel does have some advantages with a few nice resistances. In hail I'd be able to out speed just about anything that isn't a speedy scarf or already tailwind boosted (Although I have some methods to try dealing with those). Triple Axel is great for dealing damage while also breaking through sashes and while there is miss chance, it does more than Icicle Crash and I won't be banking on flinches. Iron Head and Drill Run are also just for big hits and defense boosts when Dynamaxed while also dealing with Rock/Fire types.
Ninetales-Alola
@ Focus Sash
Ability: Snow Warning
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hypnosis
- Blizzard
- Moonblast
- Aurora Veil
Alolan Ninetales is my first hail setter but will be used mostly for spreading Hypnosis and Aurora Veil if possible. With rain teams on the rise and the Dynamax moves that can alter weather I don't want to solely rely on one Veil setter. Focus Sash allows it to take at least one big hit. I figure Scizor will be on the rise alongside rain so I should be able to withstand a Bullet Punch somehow. Hypnosis can help me set up mons in the back or stall out Dynamax turns. Blizzard/Moonblast for damage. Along with a few other mons on the team, lots of ways to hit both targets so I'm not too worried about having to predict protects.
Abomasnow
@ Icy Rock
Ability: Snow Warning
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpA
Quiet Nature
- Blizzard
- Giga Drain
- Aurora Veil
- Ice Shard
I feel like Abomasnow is very underrated but it has the potential to be a kinda bulky Hail setter who also has access to Aurora Veil in case Ninetales goes down or gets double targeted. Blizzard words in sync with Ninetales/Chandelure for spreading damage, alongside Giga Drain to pull down on water types. With Abomasnows low speed it ensures I can set up Hail unless there is an even slower sand setter but then I could just swap out or Max Hailstorm to reset.
Chandelure
@ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
Level: 50
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Heat Wave
- Trick
- Clear Smog
Chandelure is my answer for fire types but it does come with some drawbacks. While I can absorb the fire moves I'd have to be able to predict the moves and also it doesn't prevent opponents from using Heat Wave as well. Heat Wave works well in spreading damage and the potential burn. Shadow Ball is solid for just hitting opponents directly and other Chandelure. Clear Smog is decent for clearing boosts but also Max Ooze can help raising special attacks of Ninetales/Abomasnow. I haven't found much use for Trick so I'd definitely reconsider it for something like Energy Ball or Dark Pulse.
Weavile
@ Wide Lens
Ability: Pressure
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Taunt
- Triple Axel
- Throat Chop
Weavile I think is the weakest link of the team but essentially I wanted a fast Fake Out user. There are many Fake Out users that can stop Ninetales/Abom from setting up or just putting Sandslash on hold. Being able to out speed those Fake Outs puts them at a disadvantage. Taunt for keeping away Trick Rooms or stopping Follow Me/Ally Switch spams. Triple Axel and Throat Chop are just nice damage. It's a little situational but I figure Primarina might try to Hyper Voice or Toxtricity with Overdrive. My only issue is Dynamaxed mons can definitely bypass Weavile so I'm debating if the Fake Out pressure is worth it.
Dusclops
@ Eviolite
Ability: Frisk
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Will-O-Wisp
- Night Shade
- Pain Split
- Taunt
Dusclops serves a few purposes being a bulky answer to stuff like Porygon Z while also countering other Dusclops. Taunt stops Trick Rooms from being set up. I could also look into Imprison/Trick Room instead of Pain Split/Taunt to be a true Dusclops counter but at the same time Pain Split is my most reliable recovery on it. Will-O for putting physical attackers on hold and Night Shade for dishing out consistent damage.
I hope this does not invalidate my team in any way. I only started playing doubles about a month or two ago seriously and finding my ways learning how to team build. I wanted some actual constructive criticism instead of "Hail bad." I know in singles hail is poor but doubles definitely has some potential if you ask me. I also wonder if my stat spreads are wrong? I only understand min/maxing from singles but I know a lot of mons benefit from certain stat distributions in doubles to give them some extra support against opponents. I think I'd definitely be willing to swap out Weavile for something that could provide better support, but right now that's all I can see. I'm pretty excited to see if Arctovish/Arctozolt end up being great Slush Rush mons later but for now I think Sandslash is the best for that role. Thank you and let me know if I need to adjust anything in my post.
Sandslash-Alola
@ Life Orb
Ability: Slush Rush
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Triple Axel
- Iron Head
- Drill Run
- Protect
The main star of this team would be Alolan Sandslash with it being a extremely solid Slush Rush mon and Ice/Steel does have some advantages with a few nice resistances. In hail I'd be able to out speed just about anything that isn't a speedy scarf or already tailwind boosted (Although I have some methods to try dealing with those). Triple Axel is great for dealing damage while also breaking through sashes and while there is miss chance, it does more than Icicle Crash and I won't be banking on flinches. Iron Head and Drill Run are also just for big hits and defense boosts when Dynamaxed while also dealing with Rock/Fire types.
Ninetales-Alola
@ Focus Sash
Ability: Snow Warning
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hypnosis
- Blizzard
- Moonblast
- Aurora Veil
Alolan Ninetales is my first hail setter but will be used mostly for spreading Hypnosis and Aurora Veil if possible. With rain teams on the rise and the Dynamax moves that can alter weather I don't want to solely rely on one Veil setter. Focus Sash allows it to take at least one big hit. I figure Scizor will be on the rise alongside rain so I should be able to withstand a Bullet Punch somehow. Hypnosis can help me set up mons in the back or stall out Dynamax turns. Blizzard/Moonblast for damage. Along with a few other mons on the team, lots of ways to hit both targets so I'm not too worried about having to predict protects.
Abomasnow
@ Icy Rock
Ability: Snow Warning
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpA
Quiet Nature
- Blizzard
- Giga Drain
- Aurora Veil
- Ice Shard
I feel like Abomasnow is very underrated but it has the potential to be a kinda bulky Hail setter who also has access to Aurora Veil in case Ninetales goes down or gets double targeted. Blizzard words in sync with Ninetales/Chandelure for spreading damage, alongside Giga Drain to pull down on water types. With Abomasnows low speed it ensures I can set up Hail unless there is an even slower sand setter but then I could just swap out or Max Hailstorm to reset.
Chandelure
@ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
Level: 50
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Heat Wave
- Trick
- Clear Smog
Chandelure is my answer for fire types but it does come with some drawbacks. While I can absorb the fire moves I'd have to be able to predict the moves and also it doesn't prevent opponents from using Heat Wave as well. Heat Wave works well in spreading damage and the potential burn. Shadow Ball is solid for just hitting opponents directly and other Chandelure. Clear Smog is decent for clearing boosts but also Max Ooze can help raising special attacks of Ninetales/Abomasnow. I haven't found much use for Trick so I'd definitely reconsider it for something like Energy Ball or Dark Pulse.
Weavile
@ Wide Lens
Ability: Pressure
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Taunt
- Triple Axel
- Throat Chop
Weavile I think is the weakest link of the team but essentially I wanted a fast Fake Out user. There are many Fake Out users that can stop Ninetales/Abom from setting up or just putting Sandslash on hold. Being able to out speed those Fake Outs puts them at a disadvantage. Taunt for keeping away Trick Rooms or stopping Follow Me/Ally Switch spams. Triple Axel and Throat Chop are just nice damage. It's a little situational but I figure Primarina might try to Hyper Voice or Toxtricity with Overdrive. My only issue is Dynamaxed mons can definitely bypass Weavile so I'm debating if the Fake Out pressure is worth it.
Dusclops
@ Eviolite
Ability: Frisk
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Will-O-Wisp
- Night Shade
- Pain Split
- Taunt
Dusclops serves a few purposes being a bulky answer to stuff like Porygon Z while also countering other Dusclops. Taunt stops Trick Rooms from being set up. I could also look into Imprison/Trick Room instead of Pain Split/Taunt to be a true Dusclops counter but at the same time Pain Split is my most reliable recovery on it. Will-O for putting physical attackers on hold and Night Shade for dishing out consistent damage.
I hope this does not invalidate my team in any way. I only started playing doubles about a month or two ago seriously and finding my ways learning how to team build. I wanted some actual constructive criticism instead of "Hail bad." I know in singles hail is poor but doubles definitely has some potential if you ask me. I also wonder if my stat spreads are wrong? I only understand min/maxing from singles but I know a lot of mons benefit from certain stat distributions in doubles to give them some extra support against opponents. I think I'd definitely be willing to swap out Weavile for something that could provide better support, but right now that's all I can see. I'm pretty excited to see if Arctovish/Arctozolt end up being great Slush Rush mons later but for now I think Sandslash is the best for that role. Thank you and let me know if I need to adjust anything in my post.